The Celtics pulled off the biggest comeback in the NBA this season, rallying from a 26-point deficit Sunday night to defeat the undermanned 76ers 118–110 in Philadelphia.
The comeback begin in full with three minutes remaining in the third quarter when the visitors started a 38-10 run over eight minutes that erased a 26-point deficit in full midway through the fourth quarter. However, Jayson Tatum revealed to reporters in Philadelphia that the comeback energy started at halftime when the team was challenged by coach Joe Mazzulla.
“We just had to be honest with ourselves at halftime,” Tatum told reporters via NBC Sports Boston. “They had 20 points in transition. Our competitive spirit wasn’t where it needed to be. Joe was like, ‘Yo, if you’re tired. Just tell me. I’ll sit you guys down. Let the stay ready group play.’ We just had a choice to make. … We just had to keep fighting. They brought the best out of us.”
Tatum was front and center for the comeback, leading the Celtics with a game-high 35 points and 11 assists with 25 of those points coming during the second half comeback. Boston’s offense came alive in the second half during the comeback, with the team doubling their field goal percentage (66.7 percent) after intermission after a sluggish start (33 percent).
Tatum and Jaylen Brown played the entire second half as Boston fought back against a feisty Philadelphia squad that shot 46.9 percent from 3-point range without three usual starters including Joel Embiid and Paul George. Ultimately, Boston’s hot shooting and improved defensive intensity turned the game around after Mazzulla’s halftime speech.
“He just kind of challenged us at halftime,” Tatum said. “The way we played in the first half was not representative of who we are as a team, as an organization. We took it as men and responded.”
The victory gives Boston their first three-game winning streak since Jan. 3. The team will look to close out their road trip with a 3-0 mark when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
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